DHAKA: Convicted war criminal Mobarak Hossain of Brahmanbaria appealed to Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday challenging the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1.

Mobarak’s lawyer Joynal Abedin submitted the 862-page appeal before the Appellate Division seeking cancellation of the ICT verdict and also his acquittal on the charges.

On November 24, ICT-1, in its verdict, awarded death penalty to ousted Awami League leader, also former Jamaat leader Mobarak for his crimes against humanity in 1971.

The tribunal chief Justice M Enayetur Rahim gave “Razakar commander” the capital punishment on the charges of number-1 and 3 among five brought against him.

According to the Charge 1, Mobarak and his associates held a meeting On August 22, 1971 and later confined selected 33 people to Terojhuri Hazat Khana.

The Pakistan army and Razakars took them to the west bank of Ganga Sagar Dighi, compelled them to dig a ditch, then they gunned them down and buried them there the next day.

During the war, Mobarak and other anti-liberation elements captured Anandamoyee Kalibari, a Hindu temple, which was renamed as Razakar Manzil, looted the temple of valuables and damaged its idols.

As per charge-3, Mobarak and his armed associates on November 11, 1971 abducted Abdul Khaleque of Satian village, took him to the Razakar camp of Suhilpur Union Parishad and tortured him there. The accused shot him and charged bayonet to confirm his death.

On May 3 in 2009, Khodeja Begum, daughter of martyr Abdul Khalek, who was allegedly killed by Mobarak during the Liberation War, filed a case with Brahmanbaria Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Later, the case was transferred to tribunal.

Later on April 23, 2013, the tribunal-1 indicted detained Mobarak Hossain for committing the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

BDST: 1515 HRS, DEC 18, 2014